EU Presidency Statement - 40th Session of the Commission for Social Development

I have the honour to speak on behalf of EU at the 40th Session of the Commission for Social Development. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with European Union: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, and the associated countries: Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, align themselves with statement.

The European Union congratulates the President, the Committee, the Secretariat and all others that have participated in the preparation of the 40th Commission and expresses its wish to participate fully and constructively in the Session.

I. Organisational matters

The European Union considers the improvement of the working methods of the Commission for Social Development to be of great importance. It is of great interest that the question of social development be dealt with in the most effficient manner within the UN.

The recommendations in the Secretary General's Report for 2000 on the integrated and co-ordinated follow-up to the major UN Conferences and Summits set the groundwork for the debate, as well as various resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council.

The EU recognizes that the potential offered by the functional Commissions within the implementation of the Millennium Declaration should be fully used and that therefore, all possible ways and means of improving their working methods should be considered. Equaly Functional Commissions play an important role in the follow-up of the implementation of the Commitments made in the major United Nations Conferences and Summits.

In the case of the Commission for Social Development, it is important to streamline the follow-up of the Copenhagen Summit and of the Special Session of the General Assembly of June 2000 as well as the Second World Assembly of Ageing within the framework of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration.

Efficient follow-up also requieres improvements in a system of indicators and benchmarks to be able to analyse and understand better the results. The Millennium Road Map provides a good basis for this.

As Stated by the EU during earlier discussions on this issue, special attention should be given to the role of the Commission for Social Development as an advisory body to the General Assembly, ECOSOC and other relevant bodies. Under the coordination of ECOSOC, Co-operation with other Functional Commissions and with all relevant bodies, including the Specialised Agencies, Bretton Woods Institutions and the Regional Commissions is necessary in aiming to achieve greater efficiency and coherence within the UN system.

It would be appropriate to achieve brief, practical and action orientated results in order to increase efficiency in the Commissions's Work.

In this regard, due attention shoud be paid to elaborate a well centred Agenda and to create a more dynamic format.

The most effective review would be conducted through a dynamic inter-active dialogue between experts, allowing the exchange of best practice and experience.

It would also be suitable to strengthen the continuity of the Commission's Tasks, proceeding to the election of the members of the Bureau at the end of each session, and prolonging their mandates.

II. Integration of social and economic policies

For the EU it is specially relevant that the integration of social and economic policies has been chosen as a priority issue.

Before analysing the inter-related issues, I would like to highlight that within the Union, the conclusions of the European Councils of Lisbon (June 2000) and Nice (December 2000) have established the guidelines to be followed in this field.

The strategy designed in Lisbon sets out three main areas in which to act: employment, economic reforms and social cohesion. Moreover, the European Council of Goteborg stressed the importance of dealing with economic, social and environmental issues in a mutually reinforcing way.

The European Council of Nice continued developing these guidelines further, a task which will be continued by the European Council to be held in Barcelona on March 15th and 16th.

In any case, we must bear in mind the importance of the relationship between social and economic policies, specifically linking employment and social cohesion. The main goal in Europe is to achieve full employment, aiming at a society that would be better adapted to the individual needs of both women and men.

Further more, the European Union would like to stress the importance of promoting a coherent approach to the integration of economic and social policies in the UN system in general. Strengthening Coordination within the UN system, for example between the Commission for Social Development and the ILO working Party on the Social Dimensions of Globalization, and between the UN and the IFIs, is particularly important. This is also consistent with wider efforts to achieve the goals agreed at the Copenhagen Summit for Social Development and the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly.

III. Social aspects of macroeconomic policies

When drawing up macroeconomic policies an even greater emphasis must be placed on the promotion and full respect of human rights. The same applies to the social goals and values that must be achieved: social justice, social cohesion, policies and measures that enhance equality, the fight against exclusion. The Nice European Social Agenda is a decisive step in this direction.

An essential aspect of the European social model is to continue combining the adequate social conditions and high levels of productivity with goods and services of greater quality. More and better jobs and well functioning labour markets in a dynamic competitive economy favours social cohesion.

The European Employment Strategy and the EU co-operation on social protection and social inclusion are key assets in this respect.

With a view to both efficiency and social justice compatible, several criteria have been established, namely: progressiveness, the assumption that taxes will always have to be paid when exceeding a minimum income and tax relief in case of need.

Policies addressing the goal of full employment should recognise both the special position of women and the importance of promoting job creation and entrepreneurship, as well as taking full account of internationally agreed core labour standards.

Another key idea concerning the social aspects of macroeconomic policies is to encourage participation by the civil society and empowerment of people while also taking care of most vulnerable groups of the society.

In the decision making process, governments play a leading role in drawing up social and economic policies, specifically in the determination and implementation of the decisions regarding revenues and expenditure that are controlled by the respective parliaments.

At the same time, civil society plays an ever increasing role in this process. The role of social dialogue is of particular importance, as recognized in the EU by the systematic involvement of the social partners in the legislative process for social policy at the European level, and the important role of the social partners in the implementation of the European Employment Strategy. The creation of Economic and Social Councils and the increasing participation of non-governmental organisations, parnertship with the private sector and foundations in other consultative bodies can also contribute to participatory policy-making.

The EU believes that the UN system, including the ILO -the agency assigned to set and deal with core labour standards- should continue to play and important role in encouraging corporate social responsibility at the global level, and welcomes the initiatives that have been taken by the Secretary-General in this regard.

By emphasising the importance of monitoring the EU processes by means of agreed indicators, the EU contributes to promoting transparency and better involvement of stakeholders.

IV. Social assessment as a policy tool

The concept of social assessment has been discussed extensively over the last few years.

The Commission for Social development, in the experts seminars -particularly the one held in Bulgaria from October 31st to November 2nd 2001- and the General Secretary's Report, have made a great effort to define the above-mentioned concept and to consider all aspects related to drawing up and implementing public policies.

Tools and methods for social assessment and social impact assessment have been developed to be used both in industrialised and developing countries. Both the UN and the International Financial Institutions have played an important role in supporting these efforts in the fight against poverty. All of us have much to gain by pooling our knowledge and experience of this work.

As a technique, social assessment uses consultative and participative methods involving all parties with a stake in the formulation and implementation of specific public policies. By using these methods, the results achieved will be more realistic, more likely to address the needs and rights of people, including the poor, and can be developed in ways which give voice in public policy formulation to those most affected. At the same time, it is important to tailor social assessment to national capabilities and to ensure the transparency of the process.

Likewise, these are a key aspects for stregthening co-ordination between the different governmental agencies and the many actors involved in a given policy. Furthermore, social assessment contributes to achieving a greater understanding and knowledge between the different sectors of society, as well as to promoting consensus, thus avoiding conflicts.

Governments all over the world have recognized the multidimensional nature of well-being and poverty, including the human, the economic, the political, the socio-cultural and the protective dimensions of well-being and poverty. We, however, still too often monitor progress and poverty only in money-metric measures such as GNP/capita or one US-dollar per day. UNDP has done a commendable job by developing more human-centered aggreviate indices. These indices are very useful in trying to get a balanced picture of the status and trends in the country concerned. Such measures along with participatory poverty assessments and Country Financial Accountability Assessments should be the key elements in our approach to monitoring the implementation of poverty reduction strategies and other pro-poor reforms in various countries.

Hence the usefulness attached by the European Union to the incorporation of social assessment as a policy tool, and our commitment to encourage and support the use of social assessment tools across all areas of public policy, and particularly in the fight to eliminate poverty and achieve the development goals set out in the Millennium Declaration.

V. Social Expenditure as a productive factor

A society with greater social cohesion and less exclusion both promotes healthier economies and ensures greater equity in sharing the benefits.

After the approval of the Social Agenda in Nice, the European Union has commenced a new stage in which the social model is characterised by the indivisible link between economic benefit and social progress. A society with a greater social cohesion and equality and less exclusion is a guarantee for better results in economy.

The guiding principle of the Social Agenda is to strengthen the role of social policy as a productive factor.

The aim of modernising the European social model is focused on investment in human capital and the fight against social exclusion.

In this respect, the EU wishes to stress the importance of coordination and cooperation with agencies, such as the ILO, to work towards linking economic benefit and social progress. To this aim we all have committed ourselves at the World Summit for Social Development in 1995 as well as at the 24th Special Session of the General Assembly in Geneva in the year 2000.

Effective social expenditure policies do not simply contribute balancing and distributing income throughout peoples' lives and among different social groups. They also secure better quality in employment, with the subsequent economic benefits.

Within expenditure in the social sector, the EU attaches special importance to education, health, housing, food supply, social protection and social integration policies.

The creation of employment and the fight against unemployment are essential instruments in combating poverty and social exclusion and allows for social protection and regional integration policies, thus promoting a greater cohesion in our societies. The provision of publicly regulated social insurance and social services through a well-balance mix of public and private providers, and available to all, is also a fundamental element of sustainable social protection systems .

The demographic challenge caused by the ageing of the population has also contributed to paving the way in Europe for a strategy for employment and modernising the European social model that will be further discussed in the forthcoming European Council in Barcelona.

VI. II World Assembly on Ageing

These varied aspects of Ageing will be dealt with in the course of the II World Assembly on Ageing in Madrid on April 8-12.

The Assembly will review the 1982 Vienna Action Plan and will approve a new plan that will reflect a long-term strategy on ageing, taking into consideration the challenges caused by the major demographic changes that have occurred in the last twenty years.

The Assembly will take stock of the rapid ageing process that is taking place all over the world and of its subsequent impact on the active population, the social protection systems and the services that are available for the older persons.

In the Madrid Assembly, the challenges posed by ageing population will be dealt with as a global phenomenon.Therefore, the aim will be to establish a long-term strategy for a society of all ages.

The European Union is well aware that longer life expectancy indicates an obvious improvement in the standard of living. Older persons' knowledge and experience should contribute to wider society. However, in order to achieve this, it is necessary to count on the participation of all social agents who work with and for the older persons and for their well-being.

The European Union has been very interested in the Assembly from the beginning. As a matter of fact, one of its Member States, Spain will host the Assembly and another one, Germany, will host the Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on Ageing in Berlin next September.

In the light of the important role UN regional commissions will play in the implementation of the revised International Plan of Action on Ageing, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, decided in 1999 to convene a ministerial conference with the objective to develop and adopt a regional strategy. The regional strategy will equally address the needs of all age groups and socio-economic groups. At the same time we need to analyse and address which effects demographic change has on various sectors like the economy and the social security system, the health system, the educational system.

As far as organisational aspects go, the preparations for the Madrid Assembly are well under way. It is hoped delegations will be headed at the highest level, as a token of the sensitivity of the International Community regarding this major world meeting.

VII. Disability

The European Union attaches the greatest relevance to the strengthening of the protection and the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. They are entitled of same human rights as everyone else.

The European Union has recognized in the article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam the non discrimination principle on grounds of disability, article which has been developed by the Council Directive 2000/78 on the Establishment of the General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation. The UE has also proclaimed 2003 as the European Year for People with Disabilities and its Parliament has invited the Commission to submit legislative proposals in this issue.

The European Union played an active role in the negotiations on two resolutions on disability considered by the Third Committee last year: the resolution 56/115 on "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons: towards a Society for all in the twenty first century", and the resolution 56/168 on "Comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities".

We look forward to taking an active and constructive part in the formulation of recommendations from the Commission for Social Development to be submitted to the Ad-Hoc Committee on the pronouncement on the principle of drawing up a convention.

Given the intrinsic interest of this issue arises, the European Union considers that all efforts must be made to strengthen current legal instruments, as well as carrying out a multi-track approach, which demands more effective co-ordination between the Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Social Development.

VIII. X Anniversary of the International Year of the Family

Likewise, the EU follows very closely the preparations for the International Year of the Family in 2004.

The X anniversary offers an opportunity of carrying out a deeper analysis of the situation of families in changing socio-economic and demographic context, and to promote policies and programmes aimed at supporting families in the performance of their tasks, strengthening their role and allowing them to reach a greater degree of autonomy.

It would be advisable to pay special attention to the problem of reconciling family and working life, and promoting a more balanced distribution of family tasks and responsibilities between women and men. Measures should be taken to ensure women's equal rights with men, equal access to economic ressources and social services.

The solidarity that naturally arises in the core of families regarding the attention and care of family members should also be recognised. It is particularly relevant to make progress in the establishment of services to support families with regard to child care and other dependent family members. In this sense, it is essential to ensure the effective compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The EU expresses its deep concern for the increased number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. A major issue for alarm is the emerging phenomenon of new family structures with child-headed households. The EU considers this to be a major challenge to the basic human rights of the child.

IX. International Co-operation

Finally, I would like to underline that poverty eradication is the central core of the European co-operation for development.

For EU, the guideline to follow in cooperation for social development is determined by the commitments undertaken in the Social Development Summit, updated in the Special Session of the General Assembly in 2000, as well as the Millennium Summit itself.

The European Union is participating very actively in the preparatory work for the International Conference on Financing for Development to be held next March in Monterrey, where we need to find ways of financing the Millennium Development Goals and promote social and economic development.

The EU regrets however that issues such as Principles and Rights at work, or even a general reference to the ILO Conventions, were not integrated in the recently negociated "Monterrey Consensus". For the EU, social development goes beyond poverty eradication.

The establishment of a comprehensive development framework such as e.g. PRSP, owned by the country and in close co-ordination with all donors is an important approach to better integrate macoeconomic and social issues with the ultimate goal of reducing poverty. The EU is fully committed to such a process. The EU also welcomes moves towards greater coherence in the efforts of the international system to eradicate poverty. The involment of relevant Specialiced Agencies such as the ILO in the preparation of PRSPs can make an important contribution in this regard.

In the preparation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the EU has committed itself to a balanced approach of the three pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection. The Commission for Social Development has a crucial contribution to make in this preparation.

Thank you.

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• President Prodi's statement at the 55th UNGA. The Millennium Summit (8/9/2000)
• EU Presidency Statement - The Millennium Assembly (21/7/2000)